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The X Files return has proven a huge triumph for Channel 5 – with the debut episode of the long-awaited revival bringing in the network’s highest overnight ratings in over a year.

The episode, which saw Mulder and Scully reunite as David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson reprise their infamous roles, attracted an audience of 3.17 million viewers, with an additional 60,000 tuning in an hour later on +1.

This made it the channel’s strongest programme since the opening episode of Celebrity Big Brother in January 2015, which pulled in around 3.2 million.

Moreover, The X Files has become Channel 5’s most successful drama launch in seven years, with the last debut episode of a series being the first episode of FlashFoward in 2009.

(Picture: Fox)

The truth may still be out there for Mulder and Scully – but there is no mystery as to why everyone was getting excited about the return of the cult classic.